We show them the receipt we found from Howard’s Convenience.

“Maybe they have cameras? Maybe he was still there when it happened?” Mason suggests, looking up the location of the store on his phone. “It’s closed now.”

“Okay. Why don’t we worry about fixing this window for now and we can check it out tomorrow after school?” Aiden reasons, nodding at the broken window.

Annalisa still doesn’t look satisfied but reluctantly agrees. There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow.

9

The school day goes by smoothly. A lot of people come up to us (mostly to the guys) to tell them how great Aiden’s party on Friday was. It’s hard to imagine that Noah threw Aiden’s birthday party just a couple of days ago, but it was, and apparently everyone had a great time.

No one mentions the fact that Ryan pulled a knife on Annalisa.

I manage to ignore Kaitlyn and friends for the day, even if we do share some classes. I especially know it takes Annalisa a lot of personal strength not to confront Kaitlyn and yank out a clump of hair. We don’t need to add more fuel to the rumor mill. We don’t need more people talking about Wacko Anna White.

After school, I run into Annalisa by the stairs.

“Hey, you ready to head out?” she asks. “I think everyone’s by Julian’s truck.”

“I’ll meet you by the cars. I’m just going to grab some stuff from my locker.”

She doesn’t object and I continue to my locker, passing Aliyah on the way, who shoots me a dirty look. I guess she’s still upset about the whole being yanked off of Chase’s lap mid-make-out session thing.

After grabbing my books, I leave through a side door since it’s closer to where Julian’s parked, and spy a red Mustang.

Something takes over my mind. My vision narrows until I see nothing but Ryan’s car. The feelings of fear and helplessness from yesterday come rushing back. The memory of my chest tightening and throat closing is so vivid it’s like it’s happening all over again. He’s the one who made me feel like that. He’s the one who goes around tormenting people for fun. He’s the one who made me think I was going to die.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m marching over to the car, determination settling over my bones, blood rushing through my veins.

The car idles as he waits for Kaitlyn to get in.

“Hey, asshole!” I yell, getting his attention.

A small part of my brain, the rational side, is telling me that I’m dumb, and remembering that this guy literally almost stabbed my friend a few days ago. But the majority, the part that loves jumping into fights, the part that hates feeling helpless and refuses to take shit from bullies, ignores it. He emerges from the car, a look of mild amusement on his face.

“Your boyfriend isn’t here,” he replies as I get closer.

“You think it’s funny to throw a brick through a window?” I stop just inches from him, my anger like electricity between us. “What if you hit one of us?”